Electrical heater.



E. A. SPERRY.

ELECTRIC HLA'IER.y

AIYLIGATION FILED JAN. 4, 1909.'

1,116,855, Patented Nv0v.10,1914.

\ a v, z U 8 mi MM UIMM! llllllllll I-IIIIIIIIIII lllilll Ill IIIIIIII Y @a @f Q E? of New `York, have invented new 'improve electric PATENT ELMER A. SPERRY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 10, 1914:.

Application filed January 4, 1908. Serial No. 409,359.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Emma A. SrnRRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and btate and useful Improvements in Electric Heaters, ot' which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to electric heaters and consists in sectional details organized to quickly convey heat away tri-in an electric conductor by convection, through the medium of aluid which is preferably anonelectrically conducting iuid.

It also relates to means for receiving and transforming the heat thus developed into the useful 'forni of energy, such for instance as utilizing it for developing stealn pressures Withinthe steam generator. i i

lt further consists in various structural details more Jfully described in the accoinpanying application and pointed out in the claims.

'l he accompanying drawings serve to illustrate one torni in which iny invention may be carried into practice:

Figure l ol the drawings, illustrates a side elevation, partially in diagram, of my electric heater or steam generator. Fig. is a sectional view o't the saine. Fig. 3 a sectional vievY of one ot' the rines or tubes within the generator. support of the electric conductors. Fig. 5 shows a detail ot their arrangement, giving the electrical conductors in section.

The characters of relerence indicate like arts throughout the several views.

The object sought by. my invention is to heaters securing therein low temperatures of the conductors and equalizing the temperatures of all parts ot' the conductors. Furthermore, to provide a heat transmitting medium which will not be atected`by the inevitable expansion and contraction of the conductorsthemselves. Also,

means whereby the heat niay be very rapidly camicel away from the conductors, thus yielding an apparatus-ot great capacity as compared to size, and operation of the electrical conductors under seal, thereby ell'ecting absence of oxidation. I

In all electric heaters of this class, the inaterials used in conducting heat troni elec- Fig.. d shows the sectional i trical resistances have heretofore been essentiallyl heat transmitters, whereas the present invention has to do with heat carriers, which are found to be very rnuch more active and ellicient.` rthe dillerence is tour rold and very important. First, for obtaining a given temperature at the outer wall ot the heating compartment, it is necessary that the electrical conductor be maintained at a very high temperature. Secondly, the heat conductivity of neutral bodies is at best very low, requiring large surtaces to be exposed. Thirdly, tor obtaining a given result the apparatus inust be niuch larger, inore cuinhersonie and expensive. Fourth, there inust be automatic safety devices provided against over heating of the conductor or the conducting niedia. The -tact is where an organization exists 'lor causing positive convection currents of the n'iedia, the phenomena may be characterized as active, whereas the heat transn'iitters are all simply passive. i

A lui-ther. object ot' my invention is to greatly cheapen and lessen lirst cost ot' the a ipuratus and render saine perfectly Safe owing to the low maximum temperatures employed, even where high pressures of steam are generated.

rl`he boiler shell T vis provided with the usual legs or supports .8f-S and the steam deine 9. 'lie ends of the boiler are pierced slniwn in Fig. Q, their arrangement being preferably in'rows so placed vertically that theitubes will be over the spaces lbetween those below. These tubes may be openendcd and extend into the crown sheets l2 in the isual rnanner.` The tubes are grouped leaving a lateral space on either side from which the tubes are separated by guide plates or dams ll, which may be groove-d or otherwise, as the case may be.

ln l is illustrated one ot the sections of the support ot the electrical conductor. These sections are provided with extensions or supports 13 and consist preferably ot insulating material, vitreous material being preferred. rlhe supporting segments i3 are seen laterally disposed in Fig. 3 where they rest upon the inner walls ot one of the tubes l0; the various sections ot the support are with the usual apertures for the tiues 10 i.

y to each other but not in contact es connected T.vit i eecli other by the mortise and tenori le und consist in tvo senil-circulur ribs l5 l5, preferably groovedto receive the conductors, with each alternate groove of larger radius of curvature es it passes to tbe center, connected es shown in Figs. 3 and 4, si ie-m, etc.,

The conductors l? lere shown lying close they pass over the edge of electrical supports l5i5 but inasmuch every other Wire lies iii s groove i8, it crosses the space between the Jsupports l5 nearer tlie center tliet its neiglibor Wliicli rests upon elet "ou of larger segment l5. lt thus happens that across the top tbe Wires l? ere arranged es seen in Fig. 5, being well separated, the spaces between tliem being for the purposes now to be eli-- plained.

The bri 1ge i9 ",vliicli couples tbe tivo side portions lil-l5 is pierced longitudinally, as shown by dotted lines at 20 in 3, 4is is also the tenori at the ered, the liole registering with tbe aperture 20, shown in section in Fig. 1l. y'lliis aperture is provided for the purpose of returning tlie lest end of tlie coil through the center to tile beginning so that botli ends of the coil may be eveilsble for the connections, with the controller or switch 2l sliovvn l at 22, ell contained Within tbe hoods 23, which are slioivn et the other endv oi the Wg pro vided with the pressure andl r ci? 25. This inclosure coinrouuicutes with all of tbe lues or tubes il) und these illed with u fluid, tbe level of which is indi- A cated :it 26. This luid muy be e or liq- CII uid, the letter being preferable, und muy be under any desired pressure, tiius securing any required degree of physical contact between the convexiug fluid end the beating conductors l?, and also the Wells il) of lie inelosure, thus aiding in tlie beet transfer und also in the rapidity w'tii which it is transferred to tlie corivesing fluid, for instance the v:iter 2'? outside the Wells l0. When liquids are use, insulating liquids suoli. as high boiling point oils, persiins or conipounds are preferred, fis is Well lruowu, such liquid shouldcliuve as liigli a specific lieat ,es possible sind also possess as greet duidity as is compatible with tbe temperatures present. Any meens'may be employed to create pressures within the circulating medium or the naturel hydrostatic pressures owing to the lient-see liquid levels 2 in Fig'. l-may be employed.

It will be understood that the iuid in contact with the electrical conductors 17 ,may circulate freely upwardly between supports lil-d5, sweeping the near wells of the in closure or tube l0. "il .liest is delivers: through seid Wells und tlie cold fluid iloivs downwardly outside tbe supports l5 and in yoperzition of my electric heater involves`an enormous saving of the heating surface per boiler ll. P. over en ordinary boiler, actual calculations based on. certain liest transferring mediums7 such as oil, slioiving that my boiler need be but 316 to 115 the of the ordinary boiler and besides with my apparatus e greater safety and cheaper cost of construction is obtained and the absence of oxidation by operating under seal, the excellent contact between the heuting und heated' medie, circulation of the 'trunsierring medium end low temperature of tbe conductors render tlie device when used extremely eilicient, durebleund advantageous when compared with heretofore llno'wu devices similar nature.

lt will readily be understood that this el pointus may be employed to equalize teni` perutures of electrica-l conductors end'for purposes other than the generation of'steam which is employed herein to illustrate one oi' its uses,

ln connection with the drawings serving to illustrate one embodiment of the inveution, While it is desired to use various parte in other i letions shown, yet it will readily l tiet alternate ends may be 'e be understood employed and some portions may be omitted and otlierssubstituted and the invention extends to such use.

l clsim:T

l. snelectric beating device o, reservoir coutsining e iluid, o plurality of in closures containing e second iiuid submerged in the nesting conductors in the last named fluid and e structure associated with the conductors for allowing positive con:-

vection currents in the last named fluid.

2. ln en electric beating device e reser- Voir containing e fluid, e plurality of horizontal tubular inclosures containing a, secoud fluid submerged in the first, heating conductors in the last named fluid and'I n. ,structure associated Witli the conductors for allowing positive convection currents 'in tbc last named i'iuid.

3. ln en )electric beating device a reser voir containing e fluid, u plurality of in and structure associated with the conducrents in the last named liuid.,V

5., in an electric heating device a reservoir containing a fluid, a plurality erin-- closures containing a Fluid under superat? mosplieric pressure submerged iii the first, heating conductors in the last named'luid and a structure associated with the conductors for allowing positive convection currents in tirelast named fluid.

6. la an electric heater, a unitary electric heating element, comprising an iii-v closure and electric conductors so arranged within said inclosure as to allow fluid within the inclosure te repeatedly circulate among" the conductors and within the inclosure.

7. ln an electric heater, a unitarg7 electric heating element, comprising an inclosure and electric conductors so arranged within said inclosure as to allow fluid within the in.- closure to circulate upwardly among thc conductors and downwardly outside the conductors.

8. ln an electric heater, a unitaryr electric heating element comprising an inclosure and electric conductors so arranged in said inclosure as to allow iiuid within the inclosure to circulate upwardly in the central portion of the inclosure and `dowriwardljy.r near the walls of the inclosure. whereby a rapid transfer of lieat is obtained.

9. in an electric heater, heating conductors surrounded by a fluid Within. an inclosure and a structure associated with the conduc- 4wound that adjacent `tors for allowing the Huid to circulate upwardly among the conductorsl and downwardly on each lateral side thereof, exterior'to the support for the conductors.

10. lin an electric heater, a heating coil and spaced supports on which said coil is so wound 'that ad3acent'loops of the coil are spaced a greater 'distance apart between said supports, than upon'A said supports.

11. ln an electric heater, a heating coil and spaced supports on which said coil is so loops of the coil are spaced t greater distance apart between said supports, than upon said supports, and a perforation through said supports. l2. ln au electric heater, a heating coil, parallel supports therefor upon which said coil is wound so that the adjacent loops ot the coil are spaced a greater distance'apart between said supports than where they rest on said supports at each quarter loop of said coilD i3. In an electrically heated boiler, th?

combination, with a liquid receptacle, o tubes passing therethrough, an electric heating device contained in said tubes, and means for producing iuid circulation bctween said heating devices and the walls 'of said tubes.

in testimony whereorn l have herer set my liand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ELMER A. SFRR-RY.

1l/llitnesses A. Ma'rruim'ria, E. F., Moneum?. 

